Jarrod Martin - 70th Ohio House District

By Larry S. Moore

The 70th Ohio House District (representing Xenia, Beavercreek, Fairborn and Bath Township) has a crowded field of entrants in the Republican primary. I’ve met all the candidates. They are all good men with a variety of backgrounds, small business owners, professionals and family men.

So what sets Jarrod Martin apart? What made the difference that would cause me to volunteer to help him even though I reside in the neighboring 84th Ohio House District?

One of the two items that sets Jarrod Martin above the other candidates is his knowledge of the issues affecting gun-owners and sportsmen. Martin is a NRA Life Member. He and his family hunt and fish. They talk about their love of the outdoors. However, when he decided to run Martin called me and asked if I would meet with him to discuss the issues and any pending legislation. Since I am interested in building solid pro-gun votes for our future in Ohio, I gladly accepted his invitation.

Before plunging into the issues, I asked him to explain what he knew about the issues and what his position is. He stepped right into a conversation of the big-picture understanding of things like Castle Doctrine, Katrina Legislation and concealed carry. We broke those down into details of current Ohio legislation and law.

Martin explained that he does not currently have his concealed handgun license because he felt it is another form of registration. I challenged him to get his license. The first reason is because the old prudent person self-defense for carrying has been eliminated. Also because the number of license holders equates to political influence to help change the law for the better in the future. And finally, as a candidate and hopefully State Representative, his knowledge of firearms and handling combined with real experience with a concealed handgun license will put him in a better position to relate to fellow legislators the short-comings of our laws. He has accepted that challenge and plans to get his license this summer. Visit his website and you will see solid references to his Second Amendment positions.

We talked about other issues that I believe reflect solid family and conservative values for him. Since Buckeye Firearms has a single-issue focus based on firearms, I will not go into other details. And finally, I asked more personal questions about him.

What I learned is that Martin knows who he is and what is important. He was a stand out wrestler for Beavercreek High School. He went to college on a wrestling scholarship. He finished his undergraduate degree graduating cum laude in Business Administration from The College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was an Athletic All-American as well as an Academic All-American. He is currently in the M.B.A. program at the University of Dayton. He operates a small business in the medical billing industry in Beavercreek.

This resume tells me that Martin is a winner. He knows how to get organized, get going and be successful. He didn’t wait on someone else to make something happen in his life. He picked his vision and set about accomplishing his goals. Whether in the sports arena, academic endeavors, business or his current work as a Beavercreek City Councilman, Martin knows what it takes to be successful.

I have helped with his campaign where I could. For those who live in the 70th House District, I encourage you to vote for Jarrod Martin. If you have some time to volunteer or just want more information about his campaign and positions, please visit: http://www.electjarrod.com/

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Association and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award and 2007 League of Ohio Sportsmen/Ohio Wildlife Federation Hunter Educator of the Year.